Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship was announced Monday. On it, 29 players – 16 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders – were invited to the team’s pre-tournament camp that begins on Dec. 14.

While who is on the roster is always the most notable, there’s just as much intrigue about who did not make it. This year, there were a few players that certainly got social media talking that bear some further examination.

RELATED: 2024 U.S. World Junior Camp Roster Instant Analysis

There was no shortage of surprises, too. A few players that were not part of this summer’s evaluation camp were invited to the final camp. While some returning players were left off as well.

So let’s examine some of those decisions and what they tell us about Team USA at the World Juniors.

The Omissions

I know the popular word is “snub,” but I think that might apply more to all-star teams and awards. When building a roster for competition like this, good players are going to get left off. It happens every time at every level. They’re not easy decisions and a player being left off should not change your opinion of a player or his prospects for the NHL. Plenty of players have been cut and went on to productive NHL careers and plenty who made the team did not amount to much as a pro.

That said, there were a few players that did not make Team USA that I thought warranted further discussion and analysis.

Hunter Brzustewicz, D, Kitchener Rangers (VAN)

There was no bigger discussion point on social media Monday after the roster announcement than that of Brzustewicz being left off. He is currently on pace to eclipse 100 points this season in the OHL as he currently has 46 points in 28 games. It’s an absurd pace for a defenseman, especially one in his draft-plus-1 season.

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. Brzustewicz not being in camp has nothing to do with his being an OHL player. Three other players from the league made the camp roster and have a good shot of making the team.

He was not blackballed and since there are no University of Michigan (which is where he was previously committed) coaches on staff, no one who was directly impacted by his choosing to play in the OHL. This argument comes up every year and every year it is wrong. Maybe those guys don’t get as much of the benefit of the doubt as the college players due to there being college coaches on staff, but they are not leaving a player home because they chose a different path for themselves. I know that’s the narrative, but the desire to win this tournament is too great to do things like that. 

I also want to say that I thought Brzustewicz should be in camp. He is having a phenomenal year and I think is leveling up his game. However, I also understand why he is not.

When building teams, you have to determine what roles everyone can play. Who will be on the power play, the penalty kill and if a player isn’t going to be on special teams, how else can they help you? 

The reason Brzustewicz is not on the team is because the U.S. has a lot of the same player. And it’s guys that are doing it at an equally high, if not better level. Lane Hutson and Seamus Casey are returning players. Casey is the top scoring defenseman in the NCAA right now and Hutson was a Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist last season. Meanwhile, the U.S. also invited Zeev Buium, who was recently named the National co-Player of the Month in college hockey as he had 14 points over eight games and currently plays for Team USA’s head coach.

All three of those defensemen are under 6-feet, but they’re also good skaters and you can make a case they're more naturally skilled despite the incredible production Brzustewicz has. The other three also play a bit quicker, which is critical at the World Junior level.

Meanwhile, the U.S. also has a returnee in Ryan Chesley as a right-shot defenseman. Without a defined role in the top four, Brzustewicz’s skillset is not necessarily the kind you need in a No. 6 or No. 7 defenseman, which is ultimately where he probably would have wound up.

I still think, based on the season he’s had, he would have been worth another look in camp. Maybe he wouldn’t make the final roster, but a player that’s on that kind of heater to start a season can still provide some value. So I understand the decision, but I still wish we could have seen him in camp just for an additional measuring stick.

Cole Eiserman, LW, U.S. National Under-18 Team (2024)

Eiserman appeared to be a surprising omission for a lot of people and even though I did put him on my projected roster for the tournament, I wasn’t as surprised to see him left off. I listed him as an extra forward, and ultimately that’s not an adequate spot for him.

To make this team, Eiserman had to prove he could play in the top six here. With Cutter Gauthier probably playing wing and Gabe Perreault likely staying with his built-in line with Will Smith and Ryan Leonard, Eiserman isn’t in the top six. 

If Rutger McGroarty is healthy, he is a more natural fit in that third line spot, which will be used for both offense and some energy. And then you’re definitely not putting Eiserman on a fourth line that you’d probably want to have some penalty killers and more defensive-savvy forwards.

That said, USA’s fourth line still should back an offensive punch as it may include the likes of Oliver Moore, Danny Nelson, Gavin Hayes and/or Carey Terrance, each of whom brings a grittier element without giving away a ton on offense.

Eiserman will have two more cracks at this roster in the coming years. Cole Caufield, whose records Eiserman is currently chasing at the NTDP, also did not make the WJC as an underager. It’s very difficult to do so.

While Eiserman's teammate James Hagens did make the team, Hagens is a center and Eiserman is a wing. They weren't competing for the same roster spot.

Lastly, goal scoring is not one of the deficiencies of this team, at least not on paper. Eiserman’s scoring element diminishes in value if there’s less he can do off the puck to find a role. This is a cut that made sense to me.

Charlie Stramel, C, University of Wisconsin (MIN)

This had to be the cut that hurt the most for Team USA and it’s an unfortunate one to be sure. However, it’s completely justified. Stramel has struggled all season at Wisconsin. He has just one goal in 10 games, no assists, and has not impacted games in a meaningful way.

It’s a concern and it was too big of a concern for USA to ignore. I’m not sure if there are any players that played in two World Juniors that did not play in a third without being in the NHL or injured. That’s what makes it difficult. 

At Stramel’s best, he is a physical forward with pace. He was one of USA’s best penalty killers at last year’s tournament and gave them some size down the middle. But this season, he’s lacked consistency and sometimes has lacked intensity. 

I still like him a lot as a prospect and I hope this fuels the rest of his season so he can get back to being the Charlie Stramel I believe he can be, which is to say a fierce, physical power center. Team USA just couldn’t take the risk that the player he has been wouldn’t show up.

Interesting Additions

Carey Terrance, C/W, Erie Otters (ANA)

I was pleasantly surprised to see Terrance invited because I think he’s earned it, but I wasn’t sure if he’d overtake some of the more familiar options in the depth of this lineup. That said, Terrance plays with tremendous pace, tenacity and he can score. He has 32 points in 26 games for Erie and was a solid addition to last year’s U18 team that won the men’s U18 worlds. After camp in the summer, I didn’t think there’d be a spot for him, but I can absolutely see him playing his way onto this team as a depth option.

Aram Minnetian, D, Boston College (DAL)

I thought it was surprising Minnetian was not invited to USA’s summer camp. But here he is now at the pre-tournament camp, one step away from the World Juniors. He played a big role at last year’s U18s and has looked good in the early goings of the season at Boston College. However, he has just four points and while he can defend, he’s not exceptional on the defensive side of the puck.

For those critical of the Brzustewicz omission, I could see them pointing to Minnetian who is of similar build and characteristics being invited over him as a strange decision. I’ll be interested to see how Minnetian fares in camp as he likely ends up in direct competition with Sam Rinzel and Eric Pohlkamp for USA’s third slot on the right side.

William Whitelaw, C/W, Wisconsin (CBJ)

Whitelaw had a strong summer camp and has played well this season for Wisconsin, but I didn’t anticipate seeing him in camp yet. He is eligible to play again next year and I thought maybe he could use a little more experience before making the jump to the WJC level. He’s had a decent freshman season at Wisconsin with eight points and has some abrasiveness to his game, which is likely a separating factor for him. If Whitelaw makes it, it’s likely down the lineup.

Quinn Finley, LW, Wisconsin (NYI)

Finley’s growth as a player these last two years has been noticeable, but among the forwards, he was the biggest surprise addition to me. He has six points so far this season, doesn’t kill penalties and won’t be part of USA’s top six. I thought he had a fine showing in the summer evaluation camp, but I have a very difficult time seeing where he fits on this roster as he hasn’t really been producing at a high level this year and doesn’t have a ton of defensive value at this point.

Sam Hillebrandt, G, Barrie Colts

Among all the roster additions, this is the one I least saw coming. I didn’t know much about Hillebrandt, to be honest. He’s undrafted, has played 18 OHL games over the last two seasons and has never played for USA internationally at any other level. USA had Andrew Oke the last two years as their No. 3 and they had Hampton Slukynsky in camp who was excellent there. The U.S. really won’t need their third goalie unless there’s injuries to one of Trey Augustine or Jacob Fowler, who will likely both play in the tournament. Still, I didn’t have Hillebrandt on my radar at all.

Also Of Note

Rutger McGroarty's Health

There is no doubt USA will give returnee Rutger McGroarty every opportunity to compete in this tournament. He's a critical player on the ice and off and one of the real leaders of the age group. However, he sustained an upper-body injury in a game against Penn State that left him hospitalized. 

The nature of the injury has not been revealed, but sources have indicated his is the injury that has a very uncertain timeline and that his ability to play likely will not be known until much closer to the tournament. My guess is, if he is healthy enough, he will go to Sweden and that buys USA about another 10 days to see where he's at. They probably will travel heavy overseas and have to send someone back if McGroarty is good to go.

With McGroarty out, I'd view Isaac Howard (TBL) as the odds-on favorite to play on a line with Frank Nazar (CHI) as the two were longtime linemates at the NTDP and have chemistry. I also think Whitelaw is a bit of McGroarty insurance, too.

The fact that USA has McGroarty in camp is a good sign, but I'm not penciling him into the roster yet until we have a clearer picture of his recovery.